Info for Ukrainians in Scotland

The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme is for people with permission to be in the UK under any of the Ukraine schemes (Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme, Ukraine Family scheme and Ukraine Extension scheme). The online applications opened on 9 am, 4 February 2025. Please check for further information here: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme information. If you hold any Ukraine schemes visa in the UK or granted Leave Outside the Rules before Ukraine Schemes were introduced, you must apply for this extension within 28 days before your existing visa is due to expire. Please make sure you apply in time before your current visa expires. 

If your application is accepted you will be allowed to live in the UK for another 18 months. You will continue to have the right to work, study and access public funds. If you apply after your visa expires you will lose your current entitlements to work and benefits for example. Find out more about the scheme: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. 

If you are affected by any of the changes to the schemes we advise you to seek urgent legal advice about you and your family’s personal circumstances. 

The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme is now the only visa application route specifically for people from Ukraine who are outside the UK. The length of this visa changed from 3 years to 18 months on 19 February 2024.  

To apply under this scheme, you will need an approved sponsor in the UK. The UK government made changes to who can act as a sponsor. Previously, sponsors included anyone with leave to remain in the UK for at least 6 months. Your named sponsor now has to be a British or Irish citizen, or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK. The only exception is that parents or guardians with 3-year or 18-month visas are eligible to act as sponsors for their children. Please check for further information here: Apply for a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme.

If you submitted a Homes for Ukraine visa application before 3pm on 19 February 2024, these changes do not apply to you.  

The Scottish Government has previously been acting as a 'super sponsor' for people arriving via the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This meant people fleeing the war did not have to arrange an individual sponsor before coming to Scotland. However, the Scottish Government has since paused its Ukraine Super Sponsor scheme.

If you are affected by any of the changes to the schemes we advise you to seek urgent legal advice about you and your family’s personal circumstances. 

The Ukraine Extension scheme was created for Ukrainians who were already in the UK on a temporary visa when the conflict started. This scheme closed on 16th May 2024 for everyone apart from children born in the UK to a parent with any Ukraine schemes visa. On 9 am 4 February 2025 the scheme completely closed to children as well. Children born in the UK after 18 March 2022 to parents with Ukraine schemes visa (Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme, Ukraine Family scheme and Ukraine Extension scheme) will have to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme instead. Check for further information here: Applying to Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. 

If you are affected by any of the changes to the schemes we advise you to seek urgent legal advice about you and your family’s personal circumstances. 

The Ukraine Family scheme for people with family ties to the UK closed at 3pm on 19 February 2024. You can no longer apply for a visa under this scheme. If you applied before the scheme was closed your application will be assessed under the previous immigration rules. Please check for further information here: Ukraine Family scheme visa.

If you are affected by any of the changes to the schemes we advise you to seek urgent legal advice about you and your family’s personal circumstances. 

On 26 November 2024, the UK government made some additional changes to clarify that time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes (Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme, Ukraine Family scheme, Ukraine Extension scheme and Ukraine Permission Extension scheme) will not count towards eligibility for settlement under the long residency route. Find out details in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. 

If you are affected by any of the changes to the schemes we advise you to seek urgent legal advice about you and your family’s personal circumstances. 

If you were issued with a Permission to Travel (PTT) letter but have not yet travelled to the UK, please note that from 13 February 2025 you are no longer be able to use that letter to travel to the UK. This letter was issued initially to allow people to travel to the UK without enrolling their biometric information first.

From 7 December 2023 all Ukraine schemes applicants must attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide their biometrics before travelling.

Find out more about the Permission to Travel letter from the GOV.UK page: Move to the UK if you’re coming from Ukraine.

Before travelling, make sure to contact your sponsor or UK-based family member to ensure they have suitable accommodation in place for your arrival.  

If you miss the 13 February 2025 deadline, you can apply for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme instead.  

If you are affected by any of the changes to the schemes we advise you to seek urgent legal advice about you and your family’s personal circumstances.